Board Votes to Approve School Closures, Places Policies on Public Comment

February 10, 2000

At its regular monthly meeting held today in Charleston, the West Virginia Board of Education voted to approve the closure of four Kanawha County schools and placed two policies on public comment.

“The decision to close a school is probably the most difficult issue that a local school board or the State Board has to consider,” said State Board President Cleo P. Mathews. “Closings are difficult because county boards must balance the wants and needs of families and communities with the educational opportunities of students and the financial realities of operating a system with a declining student enrollment. These are always tough decisions.”

Taft, Chelyan and Rand Elementary schools were approved for closure at the end of the 1999-00 school term, while Midway Elementary was approved for closure at the end of the 2000-01 school year. If Kanawha County receives funding for a new elementary center to serve the Midway attendance area, then the closure of Midway will be delayed until the new elementary center is constructed.

In other business, the Board placed Policy 2510 (Assuring the Quality of Education: Regulations for the Education Programs) and Policy 2520 (Instructional Goals and Objectives for West Virginia Schools) on public comment until March 17 and April 14, respectively.